With the concept of “winter” an increasing memory, here is overview of all that’s coming to New York stages this spring!
All tagged Joe Mantello
FEATURE: Top 10 of the 2010s
As we begin a new decade, I look back at my past decade of theatre-going and pick my top 10 favorite plays and musicals.
"MJ The Musical" will play Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre; Martin Scorsese's new film, "The Irishman", will screen at Broadway's Belasco Theatre; TimeOut's Helen Shaw is the new theater critic for New York Magazine/Vulture; "Slave Play" extends by two weeks; "A Christmas Carol" and “Evita” casting announcements; Joe Mantello to receive prestigious “Mr. Abbott” Award; Kerry Washington joins “The Prom" movie; "A Night with Janis Joplin" will screen; "The Life of Pi" might be headed to Broadway in 2021; Kathleen Marshall tapped to direct and choreograph "Sideways" musical; RIP Bruce Anthony Davis
"Sea Wall/A Life" recoups; "Be More Chill" headed to London in 2020; "Girl from the North Country" and “To Kill a Mockingbird” cast announcements; Christopher Ashley and Bridget Carpenter join Cyndi Lauper for the Broadway-aimed musical adaptation of "Working Girl"; Mike Birbiglia’s "The New One" to be a book; “The Phantom of the Opera" to get a graphic novel treatment; early Tony predictions; first look at Katrina Lenk as Bobbie in the forthcoming revival of "Company"; RIP Diahann Carroll and Anna Quayle
REVIEW: The indignity of “Hillary and Clinton”
Lucas Hnath’s “Hillary and Clinton” is a depressing form of inept and backhanded fan fiction, the very existence of which is irredeemably sexist. Putting the marriage and choices of one of the most accomplished and celebrated women in American history on stage for yet more public scrutiny is an indignity no male politician would ever face. Great performances aside, this inaccurate and intrusive play’s existence on Broadway feels irresponsible as a matter of civic integrity.
Jackie Sibblies Drury's "Fairview" wins the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; Laurie Metcalf, Eddie Izzard, Russell Tovey, and Patsy Ferran to star in 2020 Broadway revival of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"; "Oklahoma!" musical television series in development; 2019-2020 seasons announced at Off-Broadway's Signature Theatre and Playwright's Horizons; "Grease" movie prequel is in the works; Mike Faist will play Riff in “West Side Story" film; Olga Merediz, Gregory Diaz IV, Jimmy Smits join "In the Heights" film; Lila Neugebauer to make film debut; RIP Georgia Engel
FEATURE: Top 10 Shows of 2018
By my count, I’ve attended 246 performances of theatre, dance, music, opera, and cabaret during 2018. Out of a field that large, it’s hard to pick just ten, but nevertheless, here are my top ten favorite shows I saw in New York (including no new musicals and only three Broadway shows!).
Scott Rudin to produce "Hillary and Clinton" by Lucas Hnath starring Laurie Metcalf and John Lithgow; "Girl from the North Country" eyes the Walter Kerr Theatre; "TINA: The Tina Turner Musical" poised for Broadway in fall 2019; Dominique Morisseau named a MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant" recipient; "Dear Evan Hansen" to open in London in fall 2019; "The Phantom of the Opera" to launch a new world tour in February; TKTS booths now display prices (vs. percentage discounts) at all locations; French singer Charles Aznavour dead at 94
"Network" will play the Belasco; Taylor Mac’s "Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus", starring Nathan Lane and Andrea Martin, will play the Booth; Glenda Jackson-helmed "King Lear" cast announced; "Titanic" and “Pal Joey” revivals in the works; “The Rivals” and “Marie” are Broadway-aimed; Tony Awards to remain on CBS; 2018 Theatre Hall of Fame inductees announced; profile of Jennifer Simard; 72 plays and musicals to see; "Theater Talk" ends after 25 seasons; RIP Marin Mazzie
REVIEWS: Rounding Out a Very Gay Year with “The Boys in the Band” and “Log Cabin”
Capping an unusually gay year for New York theatre, I take a look at what many consider to be the first gay play (“The Boys in the Band”) and what might be the newest gay play (“Log Cabin”). Catch the former if you can (tickets are scarce and expensive); skip the latter.
"Escape to Margaritaville" will close July 1st; "The Band's Visit" will tour in June 2019; Donna Murphy returns to "Hello, Dolly!" for six performances; Katharine McPhee extends her time in "Waitress"; Audible enters into a deal with Off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre; the New York Times compiles the 25 best American plays of the past 25 years
REVIEW: Albee’s “Three Tall Women” Astonishes
Edward Albee’s 1994 Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece “Three Tall Women” is ferociously compelling under the smart hand of director Joe Mantello, and features a trio of astonishing performances by Glenda Jackson, Laurie Metcalf, and Alison Pill. This limited engagement of a towering work by a towering playwright and featuring three towering performances is not to be missed.